Research Proposal

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The cornea is the transparent, outermost part of the eye which protects the fragile intraocular contents from mechanical and pathogenic perturbations. It consists of three distinct layers: a tear-bathed, stratified layer of epithelial cells; a thick stroma of collagen fibrils embedded with quiescent fibroblasts; and an inner epithelial layer, called the endothelium. <Diseases/disorders that damage cornea>. <why we need proliferation>. <issue of endothelial to mesenchymal transfer>.

Project Idea

Our goal is to determine whether we can enhance the proliferation of human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) while maintaining their phenotype. We will use ROCK inhibitor to increase the proliferation of HCECs and study whether the presence of TGF-Beta will allow the cells to maintain their phenotype in culture.